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At least 901 records · Page 50

On the Loading Rate Dependence of Environment-assisted Cracking in Sensitized AA5456-H116 Exposed to Marine Environments

The influence of the applied loading rate (dK/dt) on the environment-assisted cracking (EAC) behavior of sensitized AA5456-H116 in 0.6 M NaCl at applied potentials ranging from −800 to −900 mV_SCE is assessed via a rising-K testing framework. The applied potential strongly affects the dK/dt-dependence of EAC with results suggesting a minimal influence for potentials more positive than −830 mVSCE and a stronger dK/dt-dependence for potentials more negative than −830 mV_SCE. Crack growth rates measured using rising versus static K testing are compared, which demonstrates that rising K methods consistently yield conservative EAC metrics with increased efficiency.

Al-Mg↗

Does Chirality Influence the Stability of Amino Acid –Cu Complexes in the Salt-Induced Peptide Formation Reaction? Insights from Density Functional Theory Calculations

The polymerization of amino acids into peptides and ultimately proteins is critical to evolution of life. Ribosomally-synthesized proteins are homochiral, composed entirely of L-amino acids. Abiotic syntheses of amino acids, however, produce racemic mixtures(equal amounts of L and D enantiomers), meaning that the pool of monomers available for abiotic protein synthesis would be racemic or nearly so. There are no prebiotically plausible mechanisms known to yield homochiral peptides from racemic pools of amino acids. While some mechanisms capable of producing or amplifying enantiomeric excesses have been observed, these excesses are small or not applicable to all biologically relevant amino acids. As a result, a prebiotically-feasible mechanism to create enantiopure pools of amino acids has not been identified. However, it is not clear that these enantio-enriched or enantiopure pools are necessary to produce homochiral peptides. Steric and electronic effects, or a combination of both, may influence how different enantiomers interact with each other, potentially leading to homochiral peptides from racemic mixtures. Here, we use density functional theory (DFT) calculations to assess the stability of homochiral and heterochiral reactive complexes produced during polymerization via the salt-induced peptide formation (SIPF) reaction. Experimental studies of the SIPF reaction have shown that it enables the formation of peptides under diverse environmental conditions, making it a plausible pathway to peptide formation on early Earth. In the SIPF reaction, NaCl acts as a condensation reagent while a divalent metal cation, primarily Cu2+, facilitates polymerization by complexing and activating amino acids forming a monochlorocuprate complex. To assess if hetero-or homochiral monochlorocuprate complexes were energetically favored, we compared the stability of LL, DD, and LD enantiomers of Cu2+–(alanine)2and Cu2+–(valine) 2 complexes. Gaussian 09 density DFT energy-minimization calculations were made for each Cu –amino acid complex in the cis and trans configuration. Models were energy minimized using the BH and HLYP/6-31++G(d,p) level of theory and free energies were compared to determine the most stable configuration.

A C Fox↗

Desulfovulcanus ferrireducens gen. nov., sp. nov., A Thermophilic Autotrophic Iron and Sulfate-reducing Bacterium from Subseafloor Basalt That Grows on Akaganeite and Lepidocrocite

A deep-sea thermophilic bacterium, strain Ax17T, was isolated from 25 °C hydrothermal fluid at Axial Seamount. It was obligately anaerobic and autotrophic, oxidized molecular hydrogen and formate, and reduced synthetic nanophase Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxide minerals, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, and elemental sulfur for growth. It produced up to 20 mM Fe2+ when grown on ferrihydrite but < 5 mM Fe2+ when grown on akaganéite, lepidocrocite, hematite, and goethite. It was a straight to curved rod that grew at temperatures ranging from 35 to 70 °C (optimum 65 °C) and a minimum doubling time of 7.1 h, in the presence of 1.5–6% NaCl (optimum 3%) and pH 5–9 (optimum 8.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain was 90–92% identical to other genera of the family Desulfonauticaceae in the phylum Pseudomonadota. The genome of Ax17T was sequenced, which yielded 2,585,834 bp and contained 2407 protein-coding sequences. Based on overall genome relatedness index analyses and its unique phenotypic characteristics, strain Ax17T is suggested to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Desulfovulcanus ferrireducens is proposed. The type strain is Ax17T (= DSM 111878T = ATCC TSD-233T).

Srishti Kashyap↗

Adaptations of Endolithic Communities to Abrupt Environmental Changes in A Hyper-Arid Desert

The adaptation mechanisms of microbial communities to natural perturbations remain relatively unexplored, particularly in extreme environments. The extremophilic communities of halite (NaCl) nodules from the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert are self-sustained and represent a unique opportunity to study functional adaptations and community dynamics with changing environmental conditions. We transplanted halite nodules to different sites in the desert and investigated how their taxonomic, cellular, and biochemical changes correlated with water availability, using environmental data modeling and metagenomic analyses. Salt-in strategists, mainly represented by haloarchaea, significantly increased in relative abundance at sites characterized by extreme dryness, multiple wet/dry cycles, and colder conditions. The functional analysis of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) revealed site-specific enrichments in archaeal MAGs encoding for the uptake of various compatible solutes and for glycerol utilization. These findings suggest that opportunistic salt-in strategists took over the halite communities at the driest sites. They most likely benefited from metabolites newly released in the environment by the death of microorganisms least adapted to the new conditions. The observed changes were consistent with the need to maximize cellular bioenergetics when confronted with lower water availability and higher salinity, providing valuable information on microbial community adaptations and resilience to climate change.

Atacama↗

Testing and Application of Commercial Thermodynamics Software for Solid-Gas Equilibria in Planetary Science Applications

The ability to calculate chemical equilibria from thermochemical constants (e.g., H, S, Cp) or other experimental data is a tool widely employed by scientists. However, phase equilibria for planetary science problems is limited by easy access to libraries of thermochemical data, as well as the software to invert that data. Many academic software packages are focused on specific types of problems (e.g., aqueous solutions or melting and crystallization of magmas). This focus makes them excellent tools for specific uses, but poorer tools for other scenarios, especially those involving elements or chemical species that are less well-studied in that specific scientific field (e.g. NaCl vapor). Amongst the more general thermodynamic software tools, there are closed academic software packages, open-source options, as well as commercial software. We have explored the extent to which commercial chemistry/chemical engineering software may be able to satisfy the need for thermochemical modeling packages that can accommodate the diverse species and conditions of planetary science problems. Here we compare the output of software package HSC Chemistry™ (Metso Outotec) to published vapor-solid phase diagrams for a variety of major and minor elements. HSC Chemistry™ has been used in several recent geochemical studies of terrestrial volcanic systems [2- 4]. However, it has not to our knowledge been benchmarked against peer-reviewed model results for the conditions and compositions relevant to planetary science. We present one such comparison here, the low- pressure environment of the solar nebula, using literature data. In short, we find excellent agreement between HSC Chemistry™ and the well-regarded academic software package CONDOR. These preliminary results suggest that at least some commercial software packages are capable of robust thermochemical calculations for planetary science.

planetary science↗

Stress Corrosion Evaluation of NiTiHf Alloy for the International Space Station Environmental Control and Life Support System

A stress corrosion evaluation was performed on NiTiHf alloy because this material is considered a bearing material candidate for the Environmental Control and Life Support System. Stressed round tensile specimens survived exposures to alternate pretreat, alternate brine, baseline pretreat, baseline brine, and 3.5% NaCl alternate immersion. Metallographic evaluations did not detect stress corrosion on exposed samples. The ultimate tensile strength values varied significantly for this material, which is common for bearing materials. This variation was observed on both, exposed and nonexposed specimens. The results of this work indicate that this material has potential applications as a bearing material.

International Space Station (ISS)↗

Salty Bennu: Halite and Sylvite in Fines Returned by OSIRIS-REx

Salt phases such as halite (NaCl) and sylvite (KCl) are important hosts of halogens (e.g., Br and I) and volatile alkali metals (i.e., Na, K) and are very rare in extra-terrestrial materials. Halite and sylvite have been discovered in carbonaceous chondrite clasts in ordinary chondrite meteorite falls Zag H3-6 regolith breccia (Zag), Monahans (1998) breccia (Monahans), and Sidi El Habib H5 chondrite, as well as on the surface of particles from asteroid Itokawa. Yet, it is uncertain whether the evaporites are indigenous or exogenous to their respective parent bodies, and their origin is debated. Analysis of the extinct 129I/129Xe decay system and 40Ar/39Ar show that halite in Zag may have formed within the first 8 Myr of the solar system, possibly from aqueous fluids during local and episodic low-temperature alteration on the parent body. Halite and sylvite in Zag are characterized by light δ37Cl values of −1.7 ‰. Halite in Zag could have been transported from the outer solar system, perhaps a P- or D-class asteroid, as indicated by O, H, N, and C isotopes. An alternative is a cometary or interstellar ice origin due to their deuterium-rich and 16O-poor composition.

N E Timms↗

Effect of the Liquid-Vacuum Transition on the Relative Abundances of Amino and Fatty Acids Sought as Biosignatures on Icy Ocean Worlds

Interpreting measurements by robotic missions searching for signs of life in material erupted by cryovolcanic ocean worlds (e.g., Enceladus, Europa, Ceres) requires linking the composition of this material to that of its subsurface liquid source. Irrespective of the properties of –and processes along– the path of ejection, material erupted on airless worlds undergoes a transition from liquid to vacuum. Here, we investigate experimentally the effect of a direct transition from liquid to vacuum environments on the relative abundances of amino and carboxylic (fatty) acids, a metric used to distinguish between biological and abiotic sources for these compounds. Amino acids were dissolved in parent solutions prepared with 1 wt.% NaCl and pH 9–10 to match properties inferred from Enceladus plume grains. Compositional analysis of the dry solids resulting from the injection of this solution into vacuum indicates a < 50% change in amino acid abundances relative to glycine. Injection of two fatty acids, phenylacetic acid (soluble and undersaturated in the parent solution) and palmitic acid (insoluble and supersaturated) resulted in a change of less than a factor of 7 in their relative abundances. At this bulk scale (all grains aggregated together), proportions of amino and fatty acids were sufficiently conserved to allow distinction between end-member example biological and abiotic sources. We did not find strong correlations between the relative enrichment or depletion of amino or fatty acids with molecular properties such as molecular mass, hydrophobicity, functionality, or charge, other than high under-or supersaturation. Most of the organic residue was deposited along the experimental injection path, which suggests that cryovolcanic conduit walls on icy ocean worlds may be enriched in organic material relative to material having undergone the liquid-vacuum transition.

Amino acids↗

High Yield Exfoliation of a Sub-Micron Hexagonal Boron Nitride Using a Solvent Free Method

Sodium fluoride (NaF) has been found to be an activation agent in exfoliating a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) platelet, using solvent free method. The procedure was carried out by enhancing the intercalation of ferric chloride (FeCl3) in an intermediate step, up to 330 °C, followed by removal of the by-product at room temperature. In this research, five additional common salts including lithium fluoride, potassium fluoride, lithium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride, were examined and compared to NaF for their effectiveness in producing the most exfoliation of a commercially available sub-micron-size hBN. It was found that, all fluoride and chloride salts significantly activated the intercalation of FeCl3 into this hBN. Analyses and characterization from X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscoy revealed NaCl to be one of most effective agents without further heat treatment and the least expensive salt in the intercalating reaction and exfoliation process. The synthetic route of this solvent free method is straightforward with 89% yield and above which can be produced on a large scale.

boron nitride↗

Thermal Insulation for a High Temperature Molten Salt Storage Tank in a CSP Plant: Preprint

A ternary molten chloride has been suggested as a high temperature (550-720 °C) sensible heat storage medium for a two-tank system. An effective thermal insulation is proposed to provide an opportunity for the fabrication of both the hot and cold storage tanks from lower cost metals, e.g. A240-347H, by maintaining the tank wall below 500 °C. To achieve this, the hot storage tank mainly comprises of inner shell (11.4 cm of a refractory brick as liner (KX-99 ®), 30 cm of insulation brick) and outer metal shell, where 5 cm of frozen layer of PCM800 (NaCl), and 5 cm of ceramic wool fill the annular space between the shells. Another layer of ceramic wool was introduced at the outer side of the metal shell to keep the temperature lower than 60 °C. ANSYS Fluent was used for the numerical study of the cool down behavior of the system during idle period when tank is quarter-filled. The heat transfer modes were considered as radiation and natural convection heat transfer from the hot molten salt at 720 °C, conduction through the solid layers and convection heat transfer from the outer shell to the environment at 15 °C. The results showed that the proposed insulation system including a frozen layer of PCM800 maintains the temperature at the metal wall lower than 500 °C, and lower than 60 °C at the outer side of the tank. Apart from the insulation property of the frozen layer of PCM800, it absorbs any leak of hot molten salt, acting as a barrier between salt and the metal shell. The thermal performance analysis provide an insight into the benefits of the multilayer insulation.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗

ZnCr and ZnNb Cold Spray Coatings

Novel cold spray zinc-based alloy coatings have been investigated for corrosion protection of API 5L low carbon steel pipelines used in transporting natural gas. These different zinc alloy coatings are designed for use to help prevent internal corrosion and improve the lifespan of steel pipelines via sacrificial anodic protection. The corrosion behavior of these cold deposited zinc alloy coatings was investigated in CO2 saturated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions under simulated natural gas pipeline conditions. Electrochemical tests were conducted at 25 and 40 °C to determine the polarization resistance and galvanic current between each coating and the steel substrate in the galvanic couple. Tests were conducted at atmospheric, 1 bar, pressure. The results indicate that use of these coatings has the potential to increase the lifespan of steel pipelines above what a zinc coating alone could provide.

Teeter, Lucas↗

Heat transfer/storage fluids and systems that utilize such fluids

Heat transfer/storage fluids that are resistant to oxidation in air at elevated temperatures, and systems that utilize such heat transfer/storage fluids, for example, as part of a concentrating solar power (CSP) system or other electricity-generating systems. The heat transfer/storage fluid is a molten chloride solution comprising two or more chlorides selected from the group consisting of CaCl 2 , SrCl 2 , BaCl 2 , NaCl, and KCl.

Sandhage, Kenneth Henry↗

Development of a Thermodynamic Database for Corrosion in Chloride MSRs

Control of the salt redox condition is the salient method for corrosion inhibition in molten salts. For chloride salt-fueled molten salt reactors of primary concern is the U(IV)/U(III) ratio, influenced directly by the Cl2 activity in the salt. Although thermodynamic assessments of MSR-relevant salts abound, none have included consideration of UCl4 which is essential to correctly describe the salt redox condition. This work reports the assessment of the NaCl-KCl-MgCl2 base salt with UCl3-UCl4 and corrosion chlorides involving Cr, Fe, and Ni as minor components and the resultant thermodynamic models. The effort utilized available thermodynamic measurements and phase equilibria complemented by differential scanning calorimetry determinations of phase equilibria. Example calculations explore the temperature and composition space to understand its influence on corrosion. The foregoing models are incorporated into an update of the Molten Salt Thermal Properties Database – Thermochemical which is publicly available.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL STUDY OF DIRECT CONTACT MEMBRANE DISTILLATION

Experimental and computational studies of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) are conducted. The permeate flux is measured in a module containing a flat sheet membrane. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hydrophobic membrane (Membrane Solutions, FPB045A16) with a nominal pore size of 0.45 μm, the thickness of 179~239 μm, the porosity of 80% is used in the experiments. The feed solution is a binary mixture of water and NaCl. The inlet feed temperature is fixed at 70°C, and the feed Reynolds number is varied between 500 and 2000. Two inlet feed concentrations, 0 and 35g/L, are considered. The permeate flow rate was kept constant at Re of 1300 and temperature of 20°C. Three-dimensional steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed using the laminar model. The Navier’s Stokes, energy, and mass transport equations in each channel coupled with flux boundary conditions imposed at the membrane surface are solved. The predicted module-averaged flux is compared to measured data for all operating conditions. Measured and predicted flux agrees well; validating both experiments and model, Temperature polarization in the feed and permeate channel and concentration polarization in the feed channel are characterized by validated CFD simulations.

Oztekin, Alparslan↗

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE DIRECT CONTACT MEMBRANE DISTILLATION MODULE OPERATED WITH HIGHLY CONCENTRATED SOLUTION

The experimental study was conducted to characterize the performance of the flat sheet Direct Contact Membrane Distillation. The length degradation was studied in a short and long module with and without spacers. The experimental study is validated using the predicted flux for a wide range of operating conditions using deionized water. Three different membranes are used in the parametric study for feed Reynolds number varied between 500 and 2000, and inlet feed temperature varied between 45°C and 80°C. PTFE membrane was shown to be more effective than the PVDF due to its higher permeability coefficient and higher hydrophobicity. Fouling study was conducted on the selected PTFE membrane with various feed Reynolds numbers between 500 and 2000 and feed inlet temperature between 50°C and 80°C. Membranes used in the fouling study were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for the morphology and chemical composition of the fouling layer. 36 hours of operation with 10 wt% NaCl (100,000 ppm) at feed inlet temperatures 80°C and 60°C and fixed Reynolds 2000 demonstrated a drop in flux by 31% and 27%, respectively. Low flow rate and high temperature are favorable conditions for fouling formation and reduced permeate flux for highly concentrated solutions. The spacers improved the flux by 30.8% and 27.6% at the operating Reynolds numbers 2000 the short and long channel modules. This study helps to design and optimize DCMD modules for industrial-size desalination and water treatment applications.

Kim, Deliya↗

Experiment Design and Preparation for a Shielding Benchmark Utilizing Godiva-IV

An experiment is currently being designed to provide a high-quality shielding benchmark for Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS) modeling. Previous benchmarks have suffered from uncertainty primarily due to two factors. The first factor is radiation that is not directly coming from the source, also known as room return. Room return is notoriously difficult to account for in experimental data and to model in benchmarks. The second factor is uncertainty associated with the source term itself. In order to reduce these two sources of uncertainty, this experiment will utilize a room return shield [1] that will reduce the effect of room return and previous work performed to ensure the reproducibility of the source term. The experiment will use the Godiva IV [2] assembly located at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) to provide a neutron source representative of a criticality accident. Previous experiments [3]-[4] have shown that Godiva IV is capable of producing both bursts and steady-state emissions of equal magnitude which will allow for reduced uncertainty in the source term. The room return shield will house and isolate the shielding samples, neutron activation foils, and other detectors. Data collected will provide a comparison of the neutron and gamma dose for shielded and unshielded configurations. This data will be used to validate shielding data used for modeling criticality accident alarm systems. Shielding samples included in this benchmark are C, Fe, NaCl, Pb, high density polyethylene, and SiO 2 . This paper details the design of the room return shield, the experimental plan, challenges, and mitigation strategies.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Stabilization of colloidal crystals engineered with nucleic acid

A post-synthetic method for stabilizing colloidal crystals programmed from nucleic acid is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method relies on Ag + ions to stabilize the particle-connecting nucleic acid duplexes within the crystal lattice, essentially transforming them from loosely bound structures to ones with very strong interparticle links. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is DNA. Such crystals do not dissociate as a function of temperature like normal DNA or DNA-interconnected colloidal crystals, and they can be moved from water to organic media or the solid state, and stay intact. The Ag + -stabilization of the nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) bonds is accompanied by a nondestructive contraction of the lattice, and both the stabilization and contraction are reversible with the chemical extraction of the Ag + ions, e.g., by AgCl precipitation with NaCl.

Mirkin, Chad A.↗

High Temperature Ternary Chloride Molten Salt Pump

This work investigates the design criteria considering thermal, structural, and material selection of a ternary chloride (MgCl2-NaCl-KCl) molten salt pump that is capable of running at temperatures above 720 °C. In this work, preliminary testing of salt-wetted hydrodynamic bearings was done to investigate different material pairings including Colmonoy grades, Stellite grades, and a novel Nickel Tungsten Carbide alloy (HybrimetTM NiWC3b) used as a High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) coating. The coating has shown to withstand the corrosive nature of the molten salt. The pump wetted components are made of Inconel 625 and features a carbon ring seal (CIRPAC Seal) flooded with a N2 gas flow on the overhead to keep salt vapors from interacting with the external ambient air. A comprehensive pump test program has been completed. Over 90 hours run time pumping hot chloride salts at temperatures up to 720 °C in which enough data was captured to produce performance curves at 3 different operating speeds. This research showcases a promising design for use in the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Gen 3 liquid-pathway and sets the ground for further development and use of the HybrimetTM NiWC3b as a competitive alternative to available superalloys.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗